Stories of My Soul
Memoir, Reflections, and Devotional Journal
by Pamela Berkery

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If you’ve ever found yourself staring into an empty notebook, grieving and unhappy, trying to unspool the tangle of past, present, and future you’re winding your way through into something you can make sense of, you’re not alone. For sixty-seven years, since the age of eleven, Pamela Berkery has kept journals. Over time, they’ve grown and developed from childhood secrets hidden behind lock and key to a measured reflection on the past, the future, and God’s presence and plan for the world. The sorrows of her life and the comfort she’s found in scripture are etched on the pages of her books, along with the joy and self-knowledge journaling has brought her. In Stories of My Soul, Pamela offers you entries from her long history of journaling, accompanied by the words of the Bible, to spark your creativity and help your own thoughts start to flow—and ultimately, to show you you’re not alone in what you go through and how you try to work through it. May the stories from her life help you write and reflect about your own.

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This book came from a period in my life when I was dealing with deep depression. Before that, I’d made mistakes that left me feeling ashamed and isolated. Along the way, I turned to journaling, which helped me find self-forgiveness. My faith grew stronger, and I learned to forgive those who hurt me while accepting the choices I made that caused my shame. I’ve always loved journaling and dreamed of writing a book, and this tough chapter of my life gave me the words and inspiration to connect with others who have faced inappropriate behavior or struggled with boundaries. I hope my stories bring peace to those who read them.

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Pamela Berkery has spent her long life surviving and learning to thrive after every trial she’s encountered, and journaling has been a big part of that. When a traumatic experience left her feeling like she’d lost herself and didn’t want to live, Pamela started compiling journal entries and writing new ones, pairing them with scripture, and putting together a book of stories, prompts, and reflections to help others through similar troubles. Pamela lives in the Willamette Valley in the heart of wine country, McMinnville, Oregon, USA.

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Contributors

Author

Pamela Berkery

Editor

Anita Humlie

Artist

Penny Warner